What’s really behind the spat between France and Italy?

France and Italy have history. They're founding members of the EU and share close economic ties. But lately, things have taken a turn for the worse. Especially since Italy's new ruling coalition came to power in Rome.

At the centre of their fraught relationship right now is immigration. France criticised Italy for not allowing rescue boats carrying refugees to dock in its ports. But the Italians accused the French of impoverishing Africa for its own gain. But is this latest tit for tat really about immigration? Or is there something else behind the spat?

Guests:
Simone Pillon
Member of the Italian Parliament for La Lega party

Stefan Sakoschek
Representative of France's National Rally party

Jacques Reland
Senior Research Fellow at the Global Policy Institute

#ItalyFrance #FranceItaly

[oliverdash]

The Europeans should assign a new president of France as they just did in Venezuela after all this protest by french people

[RasPutintheGreat]

We now declared a new president of France.

[m.k.s.]

I dream, that: Both France and Italy, (as well as ALL of the Eurasian, "general Trans-Continental"; Mid._-East-ern AND MED. -Nations) = get on better and even "Practice:
FOOTball; together" etc.
-M.K.S.

[aZM]

Simple: Italy wants to go full Fascist and France is shy.